Collapsible tent device

ABSTRACT

A collapsible tent device for mounting onto a vehicle top including a base frame member mounted to the vehicle and a side frame mounted to pivot to the side of the vehicle and to a closed box-like carrier position over the vehicle. Foldable mattresses may extend across the vehicle. The side frame and a cover for the tent are supported in an open position by cables which rotate support elements into spaced apart relationship. Access is provided from within the vehicle by means of an opening in the base frame member.

Jan. 23, 1973 United States Patent Leonard I [54] COLLAPSIBLE TENTDEVICE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 lnvemori David Leonal'd, 4Charlton 262,873 9/1963 Australia..............................135/1ACourt, San Francisco, Calif. 94123 July 13,1970

Primary Examiner.1. Karl Bell [22] Filed:

AttorneyFlehr, Hohbach, Test, Albritton & Herbert Appl. No.: 54,415

[57] ABSTRACT A collapsible tent device for mounting onto a vehicle topincluding a base frame member mounted to the 5 A vehicle and a sideframe mounted to pivot to the side [52] 11.5. CI. A, 135/4 A [51] Int.Cl. 1/00, B60p 3/32 [58] Field of Search A, 4 A

of the vehicle and to a closed box-like carrier position ReferencesCited over the vehicle. Foldable mattresses may extend UNITED STATESPATENTS across the vehicle. The side frame and a cover for the tent aresupported in an open position by cables which rotate support elementsinto spaced apart relationship. Access is provided from within thevehicle by means of an opening in the base frame member.

2,960,992 11/1960 Klipfel..................................135/4 A3,489,452 ...l35/l A X 3,093,150 3,454,020 3,375,836 3,160,435

1/1970 Plante...,................ 6/1963 7/1969 4/1968 12/1964Schaftener et al..... ...l35/l A ....l35/l A Grossman..............Domeneghetti.... ....l35/l A Smith A 7 Claims, 9 Drawing FiguresPATENTED JAH 2 3 ms SHEET 1 OF 3 INVENTOR.

David L. Leonard BY 56%, Wfiij Attorneys I PATENYEDM 23 1 91s 3.712.316

SHEET 2 OF 3 M :F v Q l M Attorneys INVENTOR.

David L. Leonard w, M44914 I t e PATENTEDJAH 23 ms SHEET 3 [IF 3mvew'roa David L. Leonard W, w

Aifirizi COLLAPSIBLE TENT DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND OBJECTSThis invention relates to a collapsible tent device which may be carriedon a vehicle top in a closed position and may be opened to form a tentin place over the vehicle in an open position.

Although there are a number of collapsible tent devices available foruse on top of a vehicle, such as a Volkswagen Station Wagon, they aresubject 'to a number of serious drawbacks. In one such device, the tentopens lengthwise over the vehicle and so is limited in width to that ofthe vehicle. This results in very limited side-by-side sleepingaccommodations. Another type of device opens to both sides of thevehicle but includes lengthwise projecting sidewalls as portions of theinternal hinges and so only allows mattress placement parallel to thevehicle. This also limits sleeping width. Furthermore, such anarrangement places great stress on the tent base since the entire weightof those persons sleeping in the outside compartments is parison to asolid pole. Furthermore, expanding the pole requires a substantialdegree of effort.

It is an object of the invention to provide a collapsible tent devicefor use on a vehicle top which overcomes the aforementioneddisadvantages.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a tent device of theabove type which opens to one side of the vehicle to thereby enablepersons to sleep side-by-side comfortably in the tent across the vehiclewith the heavier upper portion of the bodies positioned directly overthe vehicle for support.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a collapsible tent ofthe above type in which the tent cover is protected from the elements byfolding within a boxlike enclosure in a closed position.

It is a further object of the above invention to provide a tent deviceof the above type which, in an open position, it capable of completesupport by suspension cables and rods in the general manner of asuspension bridge.

It is also an object of the invention to provide substantial shelterbelow a tent platform extending from one side of a vehicle.

Other and further objects of theinvention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the drawings appendedthereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the above objects, acollapsible tent device has been provided for use on a vehicle top whichincludes a base frame member adapted for mounting onto the vehicle and aside frame member mounted along a lengthwise lateral edge of the baseframe for pivotal movement between open and closed positions. In an openposition the two frame members form a horizontal platform extending fromthe top of the vehicle to one side of the same and in a closed positionthe two frame members form a box-like enclosure.

A tent cover is secured to the base and side frame members at the edgesthereof which are outward from said pivotal, lateral edge. Support meansare provided to retain the tent cover above the open platform defining atent enclosure therebetween while providing firm support for theextending side frame member. The support means may include one or moresupport elements pivotally mounted to either frame member and cablemeans extending between the frame members and secured to the outerportion of the support element. The cable means are loose and rest alongwith the sup port elements within the box-like enclosure in a closedposition. The cable means is drawn taut to thereby rotate the supportelements to generally upright positions upon pivotal movement to form anopen platform. When a plurality of support elements are employed, theynest within the box-like enclosure and rotate into spaced-apartrelationship above the open platform.

To provide access from inside the vehicle by use of an opening at thetop thereof, the tent device includes access means, such as an openingwith a retractable cover in the base frame member in alignment with thevehicle opening. When the cover is in a retracted position, an area ofhead space is defined in the box-like enclosure extending upwardly frominside the vehicle to the side frame member.

The tent device typically includes one or more beds mounted to extendlengthwise across the platform between the side and base frame membersand foldable at the pivotal lateral edge to be within the box-likeenclosure.

A convenient way of pivoting the side frame member between open andclosed positions is by use of a lever means comprising a rod mountednear the pivotal intersection of frame members for pivotal movementbetween an extending lever position and a carrying position flushagainst one of the side frame members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thecollapsible tent device of the invention shown in an open position inplace on top a vehicle;

FIG. 2 is an expanded cross-sectional end view taken in the area 22 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the frame members of FIG. 1 in an open platformposition;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the above tent device illustrated ina closed position on the vehicle P;

FIG. 5 is an expanded view of FIG. 4 in the area 5- FIGS. 6-8 arecross-sectional end views of the tent device in various positions.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the tent device in a partially openposition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The collapsible tentdevice of the invention includes a base frame member 1 l which isadapted for mounting by conventional means as shown generally in FIG. 1,onto the top of vehicle 12 and also includes a side frame member 13mounted along a lengthwise lateral edge 14 of member 11 for pivotalmovement by means of hinge assembly 16 between an open position as shownin FIGS. I3 and a closed position as shown in FIGS. 4-5. Frame members11 and 13 each includes projecting side walls 15 and 17 and end walls 18mounted to, or forming an integral part of, floor 19 of member 11 andfloor 20 of member 13, respectively.

Projecting marginal ribs 19a and 20a may be provided in floors l9 and 20within outer walls l5, l7 and 18 and cooperating therewith to form arain gutter channel 19b and 20b with drain holes 19c and 20c at spacedintervals. The tent covering may be attached to eyelets in the ribs sothat the channel is outside the tent covering for draining rain water.This arrangement renders the tent enclosure relatively leak-proofwithout the necessity of an exterior rain flap.

Frame members 11 and 13 may be formed of any suitable material ofreasonably high strength and light weight. As generally illustrated inFIG. 5, floors l9 and 20 and walls 15, 17, and 18 are formed ofpolyurethane externally coated with a suitable weather proofing such asresin coated glass fiber cloth. Wood inserts may be provided, whennecessary, for appendages by means such as screws, eyes, grommets, etc.The walls may be mounted to their respective floors by an adhesivelayer. In an alternate method of construction, each frame member couldbe vacuum molded to the desired shape or formed of a rigid plastic, sothat end walls and side walls would be integral with floors l9 and 20.The frame may be relatively light weight since, as explainedhereinafter, a substantial portion of the stress is taken in a separatemetal backbone member.

Hinge assembly 16 is shown to include hinges 21a and 21b adjacent eachside of a central hinge 21c and spaced apart therefrom. Hinge 210 iscovered by a suitable enclosure 22 to protect occupants of the tent frominjury and is employed only when necessary to support the side framemember. An important feature of the hinge assembly is that it does notinterfere with the formation of a flat platform so that mattresses 23and 24 may be positioned across a flat lateral edge 14. To accomplishthis, hinges 21a, b, and c are welded to backbone angle members 26a and26b, mounted as with bolts to the respective floors 19 and 20. Members26a and .b mate in an open tent position without projecting above thefloors, as shown in FIG. 2, and extend nearly the entire length oflateral edge 14. The projecting hinges are conveniently located so asnot to interfere with crosswise positioning of mattresses 23 and 24.Each half of the hinge assembly may be formed of a high strength metaland be of unitary welded construction. As previously discussed, members11 and 13 may be separately constructed of lightweight material andjoined to the assembly in a relatively simple fashion. The majority ofthe stresses of the open tent device are absorbed in high strength anglemembers 260 and 26b.

Mattresses or beds 23 and 24 may be attached in any suitable manner tomembers 11 and 13, such as with adhesive. The mattresses may be formedof conventional foam material with the mattress body undercut along thehinge line leaving only the top mattress ticking continuous. This formsa hinging line for the mattresses so that they do not interfere with theclosing of the tent device. By crosswise positioning of the beds,persons sleeping with their upper bodies over the vehicle will have onlya minor portion of their body weight projecting over the side thereofleading to less strain on the extending side frame. It is noted thatmattress 24 may sleep two people. By adding another mattress (dottedline 23a), four people can sleep comfortably within the tent.

A flexible weather-proof sheet 25 is affixed along the entire length ofeach inner mating edge of frames 11 and 13 to protect the contents ofthe tent device in a closed carrier position. In an open tent position,sheet 25 hangs loosely as shown in FIG. 2. Upon rotation to a closedposition, the sheet is drawn taut on the outside of the hinges to form aprotective wall.

An important feature of the invention is support means to retain thetent cover 27 described herein above the platform formed by members 11and 13 in an open position to define a tent enclosure while providingfirm support for member 13 in the open extended position thereof. Thesupport means include a central support element 28 and side supportelements 29 with cable means 30 extending between corresponding frontand rear corners of each frame member and passing through openings inthe rotatable outer portions of the support elements. Conventionaladjustable set screw lugs (not shown) may be provided on the cable onboth sides of each support rods to position the support rods in adesired radial position. Turn buckles maybe provided to adjust thetension on the cables to assure adequate support and a flat platform.Elements 29 are optional but serve to provide better support for framemember 13 and to increase the area of the tent enclosure. As best shownin FIG. 2, the support elements are pivotally mounted to hinge frames 31which are welded to crossbars 31a and 31b which, in turn, are welded tocorresponding sides of the outside hinges 21a and 21b and thus tomembers 26a and 26b mounted to frame members 1 1 and 13-Support elements28 and 29 are of a generally U-shaped configuration with pivotal arms aconnected by crossbars b and include inwardly facing eyelets forattachment of edges of tent cover 27. With the support elements in anopen spaced apart position as shown in FIG. 8, the tent cover issuspended from within the frame. This arrangement avoids contact of thecover with an internal frame which would tend to cause leaks in a canvasmaterial at the contact point. The gutter further eliminates thenecessity of any exterior rain flap along the sidewalls of the frame.

When the tent device is in a closed position, the support elementsrotate into a nested position within the box-like enclosure, as shown inFIG. 6, with the cable resting loosely within the enclosure. Referringto FIG. 9, the tent cover automatically folds between support elementsas member 11 is rotated to a closed position so that the tent coverrests completely within the enclosure. Upon rotation of side framemember 13, as shown in FIG. 7, to an open position, as shown in FIG. 8,cables 30 are drawn taut and cause the rotation of elements 28 and 29into spaced apart relationship to raise tent cover 27 to an uprightposition. In an open tent position, cables 30 are in tension and supportelement portions 280 and 29a are in compression to provide excellentsupport for extending side frame member 13. In other words, theoutermost portion of the side frame member is supported in a highlystable manner by the far end of the base frame member and so by thevehicle.

Tent covering 27 may be firmly affixed or detachably mounted to marginalribs 19a and 20a opposite side walls and 17 as desired. On the otherhand, the portions of the tent covering that extend downwardly to ribs19a and 20a opposite end walls 18 should be detachable so that uponpivoting of side frame member 13 as shown in FIG. 9 the tent coveringmay properly fold within the spaced apart area between adjacent supportmembers and between outside support members. In this way, the tent wouldbe totally enclosed between the frame members when the tent device is ina closed carrier position as shown in FIG. 4 to provide a relativelythin box-likecarrier enclosure of a generally neat appearance incomparison to conventional carrier tent devices. Furthermore, there isrelatively little wind resistance to the box-like enclosure, whichresistance is further decreased by rounding the outer front end wall 18,as shown in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 4, access means is provided in base frame member 11 inalignment with an opening 32 at the top of vehicle 12 and includes anextending marginal portion 33 about base frame opening 34 which mateswith opening 32. Margin 33 may be provided with a flexible adaptiveouter layer 36 so that the base frame can fit vehicles of differentshaped tops. A retractable cover 37 is provided for opening 34 which hasan open retracted position, as generally shown in FIG. 4, and a closedgenerally flat position, as generally shown in FIG. 3. Side frame member13 may be provided with a transparent, translucent or tinted sunroof 38positioned over opening 32 when the tent device is in a closed position.When cover 37 is in a closed position, it provides sufficient supportfor standing and movement within the tent enclosure. Cover 27 may beretracted to serve a useful function when the tent device is either in aclosed or open position. In the former position, by exposing opening 32,persons within the vehicle are provided with an area of substantiallyincreased head space to perform such function as cooking and are able toreadily view the surroundings through sunroof 38. Of course, when thetent device is in an open position, access is provided thereinto fromwithin the vehicle. Furthermore, heat provided in the vehicle may betransmitted through opening 32 to warm the tent.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 5-7, a lever means may be provided for pivotingthe side frame member between an open and closed position and includinga rod 39 pivotally mounted to hinge frame 40 which is located nearlateral edge 14. Hinge frame 40 is suitably mounted to frame member 13in a recess thereof by bolting or welding to an extension of backbonemembers 26a and 26b. When the tent device is in a closed position asshown in FIG. 4, rod 39 is rotated to a position flush with end wall 18and may be detachably fixed thereto as with a bolt extending into theend wall (not shown). To rotate the tent device into an open position,rod 39 is rotated 180 in the plane of the closed frame to extend asshown in FIG. 6. Referring to FIG. 7, the rod is pulled downwardly in anarc which rotates the side frame member to an open position. It is notedthat sufficient leverage may be applied by one person to open and closethe tent device with relatively little effort. The rod may then besecured flush against the base frame or rotated 180 in the plane of theplatform for securing to the side frame member.

A device of the aforementioned type provides many unique features. Theprojection of side frame member 13 in an open position is sufficient toprovide substantial coverage from rain or the sun for outside activitiesbeneath this portion. Furthermore, since access is from within thevehicle, the tent is completely enclosed for protection from animals andfrom human prowlers. Furthermore, since the support means, hinges forrotation, and lever are mounted to the metal backbone angle members 260and 26b, of high strength, the base and side frame members may be formedof relatively lightweight structural materials.

It should be apparent that a number of modifications could be madewithin the scope of the present invention. For example, although adouble and single bed have been described, one of the beds may beremoved. Furthermore, an additional bed may be placed within the vehicleto sleep four persons. In another modification, more or less U-shapedsupport elements could be employed. The central support element could bepositioned to pivot from the base frame portion rather than the sideframe portion. Another modification would be a retractable cantileverextension to the side frame member to provide an increased shelteredarea under the tent device in an open position.

Iclaim:

1. In a collapsible tent device for use on a vehicle top, a first framemember adapted for mounting onto the vehicle, a second frame membermounted along a lengthwise lateral edge of said first frame member forpivotal movement between open and closed positions, a weather-proofsheet affixed along the inner mating edges of said first and secondframe members, said frame members in an open position forming anessentially horizontal platform extending outwardly from the top of thevehicle with said sheet in a loose state, said platform including asubstantial flat bed support portion extending lengthwise between saidfirst and second frame members, said frame members further forming abox-like weather-proof enclosure in a closed position with said sheetbeing drawn taut to form a protective wall against the weather along thelength of the pivotal lateral edge, a tent cover secured to said firstand second frame members, at least one support element pivotally mountedto either frame member, cable means extending between and secured to therespective outer portions of each of said frame members and secured tothe outer portion of said support element, said cable means being looseand resting along with said support element between said frame membersin said box-like enclosure, said cable means being automatically drawntaut and causing the rotation of said support element to an uprightposition and moving said tent cover to a fully opened position inresponse to pivotal movement of said second frame member, said cablemeans having sufficient strength to support the outer edge of saidsecond member without auxiliary bracing.

2. A tent device as in claim 1 together with a bed mounted to extendlengthwise across said flat bed support portion of said platform andbeing foldable at said pivotal lateral edge.

3. A tent device as in claim 1 including lever means for pivoting saidsecond frame member comprising a rod mounted near said pivotal lateraledge for pivotal movement between an extending lever position and ahaving an opening at the top thereof including access means in saidfirst frame member with alignment with said vehicle opening to provideentrance to said tent device from within said vehicle.

7. A tent device as in claim 6 in which said access means includes aretractable cover over an opening in said first frame member defining ina retracted position an area of head space in said box-like enclosureextending upwardly to said second frame member.

1. In a collapsible tent device for use on a vehicle top, a first framemember adapted for mounting onto the vehicle, a second frame membermounted along a lengthwise lateral edge of said first frame member forpivotal movement between open and closed positions, a weather-proofsheet affixed along the inner mating edges of said first and secondframe members, said frame members in an open position forming anessentially horizontal platform extending outwardly from the top of thevehicle with said sheet in a loose state, said platform including asubstantial flat bed support portion extending lengthwise between saidfirst and second frame members, said frame members further forming abox-like weather-proof enclosure in a closed position with said sheetbeing drawn taut to form a protective wall against the weather along thelength of the pivotal lateral edge, a tent cover secured to said firstand second frame members, at least one support element pivotally mountedto either frame member, cable means extending between and secured to therespective outer portions of each of said frame members and secured tothe outer portion of said support element, said cable means being looseand resting along with said support element between said frame membersin said box-like enclosure, said cable means being automatically drawntaut and causing the rotation of said support element to an uprightposition and moving said tent cover to a fully opened position inresponse to pivotal movement of said second frame member, said cablemeans having sufficient strength to support the outer edge of saidsecond member without auxiliary bracing.
 2. A tent device as in claim 1together with a bed mounted to extend lengthwise across said flat bedsupport portion of said platform and being foldable at said pivotallateral edge.
 3. A tent device as in claim 1 including lever means forpivoting said second frame member comprising a rod mounted near saidpivotal lateral edge for pivotal movement between an extending leverposition and a carrying position flush against one of said framemembers.
 4. A tent device as in claim 1 in which said cable meansincludes at least one cable secured to corners of said first and secondframe members both lying in the same plane of pivotal rotation.
 5. Atent device as in claim 1 including a plurality of said support elementsresting within said box-like enclosure and rotating into spaced apartrelationship above said open platform.
 6. A tent device as in claim 1for use with a vehicle having an opening at the top thereof includingaccess means in said first frame member with alignment with said vehicleopening to provide entrance to said tent device from within saidvehicle.
 7. A tent device as in claim 6 in which said access meansincludes a retractable cover over an opening in said first frame memberdefining in a retracted position an area of head space in said box-likeenclosure extending upwardly to said second frame member.